A survey of tick-borne bacteria and protozoa in naturally exposed dogs from Israel

Gad Baneth*, Edward B. Breitschwerdt, Barbara C. Hegarty, Brandee Pappalardo, Jeffery Ryan

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

73 Scopus citations

Abstract

Antibody reactivity against seven bacterial or protozoal pathogens was measured in sera derived from 40 dogs suspected of a tick-borne disease. Sera from 73% (29/40) of the dogs reacted with three or more test antigens. Seroreactivity was most prevalent to Babesia canis antigen (90%) followed by Babesia gibsoni (75%), Ehrlichia canis (63%), Rickettsia conorii - Moroccan strain (58%), Rickettsia conorii - Israeli strain no. 2 (28%), Borrelia burgdorferi (10%) or Bartonella vinsonii (berkhoffii) (10%). Seroconversion documented in seven dogs, supported an acute phase diagnosis of ehrlichiosis in four dogs, R. conorii infection in three dogs and babesiosis in one dog. In the remaining dogs, correlation of clinical abnormalities with increased seroreactivity was not established through the design of this study. Although Lyme borreliosis has not been reported in people in Israel, Western blot analysis for antibodies reactive to B. burgdorferi identified genus-specific antiflagellin antibodies indicating that clogs in Israel are exposed to a Borrelia species. Identification of species-specific seroreactivity was not possible and infection with a Borrelia species other than B. burgdorferi is likely. Seroreactivity to B. vinsonii (berkhoffii) in dogs outside the USA is reported here for the first time.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)133-142
Number of pages10
JournalVeterinary Parasitology
Volume74
Issue number2-4
DOIs
StatePublished - 31 Jan 1998

Keywords

  • Babesia canis
  • Babesia gibsoni
  • Bartonella vinsonii
  • Dog
  • Ehrlichia canis
  • Israel
  • Rickettsia conorii

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